About Environmental Health
Our Program
Our Environmental Health Division works within Thurston County Public Health and Social Services to assist the community in issuing permits, responding to complaints, and ensuring that health regulations of the local sanitary codes are followed.
Most of our services are fee based and the fees allow our office to be mostly self-supporting. Septic system owners, restaurants, and food handlers pay for permits. Some programs may also receive funding through grants and contracts with municipal, county and state agencies.
Environmental Health work includes food safety, drinking water and wells, safe environments (schools, water recreation facilities, shellfish harvesting), on-site sewage (septic), solid, business, and hazardous waste regulation.
Brochures, Documents, Publications, and Reports
Drinking Water & Lab Helpful Documents:
- Coliform Bacteria Information
- Disinfecting Your Well
- Group B Management Guide
- Maintaining Your Well
- Preventing Pesticide Contamination
- Testing Your Well
- Water Testing Instructions (includes drop off locations and times)
Covenants:
- Declaration of Covenant
- Restrictive Covenant
Well Head Protection Program:
Business Pollution Prevention:
Loss of Title Washington State Licensing (DOL)
Abandoned / Junk Vehicle Guide Washington State Police (WSP)
Hazohouse Charge Account Application for Small Businesses (with fee schedule)
Hazardous Waste Management Plan
Hazardous Material Fact Sheets (Industry Specific):
- Antifreeze, Used Oil and Oil Filters
- Aqueous Parts Washers
- Bioremediation Parts Washers
- Category 1 Pesticides and their Unrinsed Containers
- Commercial Printing
- Does Your Business Generate Hazardous Waste?
- Doing Business in a Wellhead Protection Area
- Floor Drains
- Fluorescent Lamps
- Hazardous Materials Management for Retailers
- Hazardous Waste Disposal Program
- Nonpoint Source Pollution Ordinance Compliance
- Oil/Water Separators
- Pesticide Storage, Mixing, and Loading
- Paint Booth Filters
- Photo Processing
- Residential Heating Oil Tanks
- Safe Handling of Empty Pesticide Containers
- Secondary Containment
- Shop Towels
- Spill Plans
- Storing and Labeling Hazardous Waste
- X-Ray and Photo Fixer Disposal
Homeowner Maintenance and Requirements
Information & Guidance for the Septic Professional
- Gravity
- Landscaping Your Drainfield
- Pressure Distribution
- Pumping and Inspection Guide
- Mound System
- Riser Rebate Request Form
- Sand Filter System
- Scum and Sludge
- Septic Inspection and Pumping Guide
- Inspecting Your Septic Tank
- Other Proprietary Devices, most up-to-date information on proprietary sewage products approved by Washington State.
- Wastewater Forms and Publications (WA DOH)
Time of Transfer Application and FAQs:
Thurston County PHSS Pollution Source Identification and Correction: 2022 Protocol Manual
Water Conservation:
Digital Water Quality Library and Hydrogeology Reports for Thurston County. Documents from 1908 to Present: Click Here for a Link to the Digital Library
Contact Environmental Health at Environmental_Health@co.thurston.wa.us if you have additional questions.